Ideally the D should be banking the pass so it loses some velocity while getting near you.

I have had great success this year by trying to not catch the pass so much as get a stick on it. I try and deflect it so it loses velocity and changes direction. That screws the D up way more than catching and stopping a puck clean, because then they have to make turn to see the puck while I just keep going forward.

You do have to turn slightly and use your peripheral vision. And I can see getting blown up frequently in checking hockey.